Three teens have been charged over a gang robbery on a city centre street which has been plagued with problems linked to violence, anti-social behaviour and underage youths drinking and using drugs.
The incident occurred in Whitechapel on August 18 last year. The victim was allegedly robbed of a Black Samsung Galaxy phone by three boys, from the Toxteth and city centre areas, and "threatened with unlawful violence".
One of the boys, aged 16 at the time but now 17, has pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon - a black pole - but denies robbery. The other two, a then 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named due to his age, each pleaded not guilty to robbery and affray.
READ MORE: Battle for Whitechapel as city centre street becomes 'hotspot' of child danger
The boys are due to stand trial on July 21 at Liverpool Youth Court.
Whitechapel has been plagued with problems in recent months, and has been a regular target of police dispersal notices. Shocking issues arose at a Liverpool City Council licensing hearing for a newsagent, Go Local, which had been found to be selling alcohol to underage children.
During that hearing, in July last year, councillors heard how police and social workers had concerns about child criminal and sexual exploitation in the Whitechapel area. At that meeting Sergeant Jackie Keeler said the force had imposed 10 dispersal notices in Whitechapel and incurred "quite a large overtime bill".
In October last year, a multi-agency operation involving police, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) and Liverpool Council's trading standards team targeted suspected rogue traders in the Whitechapel area.
A number of Airpods, watch straps, phone cases and screens suspected of being counterfeit were recovered, along with cigarettes and nitrous oxide canisters
